From the Archives: Trump Makes a Tokyo Visit

Real Estate Developer – and as of Jan. 20, President of the U.S. – Donald Trump presents his views at a professional luncheon on Aug. 18, 1993. FCCJ President Lew Simons (Knight-Ridder) is seated next to him, smiling at the speaker’s remarks. Trump was on a swing through Asia to thank investors who had helped him during his financial crisis and to discuss potential retail projects. His comments were quoted in a New York Times article of the same date by Andrew Pollack, and included urging the U.S. to get “tougher” with Japan in its trade negotiations and calling past U.S. negotiators “morons” and “idiots.” The article also quoted him as saying that in trade negotiations America should be represented by a top businessman.

Donald J. Trump needs no introduction, but here’s a thumbnail sketch. He was born on June 14, 1946, in New York City and raised in a family entrenched in the real estate/construction business. From the early 1970s, when he took over the family’s business and renamed it the Trump Organization, he successfully expanded the company until becoming financially over-extended in the late 1980s after building resort casinos.

Trump’s dire financial situation was further aggravated when his wife, Ivana, discovered an affair and divorced him in 1992. (She reportedly received a $20 million settlement.) “The Donald,” as Trump had come to be known, however, made a successful comeback by the end of the 1990s, and went on to become a celebrity entrepreneur as the host of NBC’s hit show, “The Apprentice.”

Trump, too, had long been active in politics, supporting candidates from both major parties over the years. He considered running for the presidency in 2000 as a candidate from Ross Perot’s Reform Party and in 2012 as a GOP candidate, but bowed out of the race.

Little can be added to all that’s been said about Donald J. Trump over these many years and especially the last few months. His utterances have been sliced and diced by both opponents and supporters, with appropriate spin given by each side.

There is little doubt, however, that his inauguration this month will also bring major changes, domestically and internationally.